An audio/video ("A/V") apparatus for selecting programs from a plurality of programs includes a memory, which receives and stores program information describing a plurality of programs through program attributes, and a source of user-defined criteria. The user-defined criteria identify preferred program attributes and non-preferred program attributes. The A/V apparatus includes further a preference module configured to sort through the program information to determine a program having program attributes that include the preferred program attributes and exclude the non-preferred program attributes.